Stetson, Daniel

Research in the Stetson lab focuses on how cells detect and respond to viral infection. All organisms have viral pathogens, and an ancient and fundamental mechanism for detecting viral infection makes use of sensors that recognize viral nucleic acids. These sensors are essential for triggering innate and adaptive immune responses to infection and vaccination, yet they also can cause severe autoimmune disease when inappropriately activated. We are particularly interested in a pathway that detects DNA within cells and activates a potent antiviral response. Current areas of research include defining the sensors and signaling pathways activated by intracellular DNA, exploring how dysregulated nucleic acid metabolism can trigger this pathway, and characterizing a new mouse model of lethal autoimmunity caused by antiviral sensors.